Spark emtensifier



y ,1945. E. M. ROIBINSON 2,376,981

SPARK INTENSIFIER 1 Filed Oct. 2, 1943 INVENTO [mme/f/W Fob/n5 BY I 9-.I

Arron/z Patented Mr, 29, 1945' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPARKINTENSIFIER Emmett M. Robinson, San Francisco, Calif. ApplicationOctober 2, 1943, Serial No. 504,757

Claims. (01. 123-148) latter are connected by conductors with thedistributor.

Another object of the invention is a spark intensifler constructed togreatly increase the efflciency of the spark produced at the spark gapin a spark plug in a manner to insure an effective spark for effecting amore complete combustion of gases in an internal combustion engine thanheretofore without objectionable carbonization or burning of the sparkpoints, and also, where my intensifier is used it functions to insure aneffective spark at said spark gap even in the event of a leakage in theinsulation of the spark plug to such an extent that no effective sparkis produced at the gap in present systems.

' The ultimate results accomplished by my intensifler are: substantialelimination of present spark plug troubles over long periods of time forexceeding the ordinary life of sparkplugs in conventional installations,not using my intensifler; an increase in power of the engine by reasonof more eifective ignition of the combustible gases; smoother operationof the engine due to positive ignition at each firing point in thefiring cycle; increased economy in the operation of an engine. readynoted herein.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through my device, inposition on a conventional distributor, and with certain elements in thedevice as well as one end of the high tension electrical conductor beingshown in elevation.

Fig, 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

In detail, the portion of a conventional distributor adapted to supportmy device is indicated at I, and which portion comprises a centrallyrecessed cylindrical boss, having therein a conductor element 2 adaptedto be friction'ally gripped by a tubular conductor sleeve extending frommy device.

My device itself comprises a body member 3 of Other results areaccomplished as al-.

insulation material, such as Bakelite," hard rubber, or any othersuitable electrical insulating material. This body member is elongatedand is formed with a cylindrical through bore extending longitudinallythereof and opening outwardly of the body at its opposite ends.

For convenience of description, my device will be considered as beingpositioned vertically as shown in the drawing, although in actual use itmay be supported in any other position should the distributor or thesupport therefor be adapted to support the device in any position otherthan vertical. a

The lower end portion 4 of the bore through my device is of lessdiameter than the remaining upper portion 5 thereof, thus forming anannular shoulder 6 at the juncture between portions 4, 5.

A metal conductor tube 1 of outside diameter substantially that of theportion 4 of said bore is inserted into the upper open end of portion 5and is moved into said bore until the slightly outward 1y flared rim 8formed around the upper end of said tube rests against the shoulder 6.The length of said tube 1 is such that its lower end projects asubstantial distance from the lower end of the body I. 'This lower endof tube 1 is preferably vertically slotted from the lower edge of thetube so thatthe lower end portion of the tube may be frictionallysecured to the end of conductor 2.

Within the bore 5 is a cylindrical, open-ended tube 9 of insulationmaterial such as glass, which tube freely slides in bore 5. At the endof tube 9 adjacent the rim 8 is a cylindrical metal sleeve Ill providedwith an outwardly projecting flange II at one end, which flange isadapted to seat on rim 8. The sleeve I 0 is adapted to extend into tube9 a short distance, and at the opposite end of tube 9 is a sleeve I2that is similar to sleeve III; This sleeve I2 has a flange l3corresponding to flange II, but disposed at the upper end of sleeve I2,and which flange I3 seats against an annular metal disk l4 that issecured inbore 5 at a point spaced from the upper open end of said bore.

The flanges II, I3 are preferably slightly spaced from the ends'of tube9 as seen in Fig. l, and the sleeves III, I2 are spaced within theopposite ends of said tube.

Intermediate the opposite ends of tube 9, and therein, is a plurality ofcircular disks I5 of highly reflned tungsten, being almostpure or over99% pure. Each of these disksare separated from each other by a circulardisk I6 of relatively thin mica and the tungsten and mica disks are oisubstantially the same diameter andare slidable in tube 8, beingslightly smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of said tube.

adjacent turns of the coil relatively well open disk I! while a similarspring ll of the same material'is interposed between the lower disk I01' the pile and the flange ll. These springs and said disks are, ofcourse, assembled in tube! and coaxial bores 4, 5 centrally therein, andas all elements in said bores, such as the sleeves 1, l0; l2, rim 8,flanges II, l3, disks M, IE, IS, springs l1, IO and tube 9 are allcoaxial with the central very easily assembled, the elements thereoiaresuch as lend themselves to quantity production and assembly withoutrequiring complicated and expensive dies, jigs, etc.

install my deviceon the conventional distributor,

it is only necessary to remove terminal from the latter, and tosubstitute the projecting end of sleeve 1. The terminal 20 is thenpositioned in the upper end of bore position for use.

through spring I! to the pile of disks l5ljumps from'many points on theperipheries of thedisks IS' in its passage to spring ill on the way tothe spark gap of each spark plug when the distribleading to each plug.

While the disks l5 and their separators of mica could have any desiredshape other than circular,

said disks l5. Also, it is essential that the disks I! be of a material,such as tungsten, since the internal combustion engine.

The use of more than a singlepair of disks l5 providing a single sparkgap in the intensifier I is also important, since a single gap will notproduce the desired results. There should be a plurality of gaps ofsubstantially the character disis not to be restricted as to dimensionsof elements, I have found that using disks about to A coil spring II orphosphor bronze having" 5 and the device is in In operation the highvoltage current passing is interposed betweenflange l3 and the upperbetween the flanges II, II before the annular Oi course, one or twodisks or more or mica may be used between adjacent disks or tungsten-togive the spacing desired. Mica is specified herein because it producesthe desired efiective insulation irrespective of temperaturevariations,,but it is to be understood that any insulator or metal maybe used provided it possesses the equivalent properties or thosespecified, and the same is true of the phosphor bronze springs. Thesesprings have durability under most severe usage as'hav'e the disks oftungsten and mica. For all practical purposes, the spark intensifier asa whole may be said to be substantially indestructible barringoccurrence of unusual accidents thereto.

From numerous tests conducted under actual operating conditions, thereappears to be substantially no carbonization on the spark plug points oralong the elements forming saidpoints.

. axis of the body 3,,it is seen that the device is In mostautomobilestheinsulated high tension; conductor I9 is usually formedwith a cylindrical; terminal 20 at itssend that is adapted to be fric-ltionally held inthe recess in the distributor boss and in contact orengagement with the con ductor 2 in the latter. The upper end of bore 51is adapted to frictionally hold the conductor ter- 1 minal 20inengagement with disk l4. Hence, to

I 5 across the slight gaps formed by mica disks closed in order toobtain the best results, and I have discovered that the maximum resultsare Oil on such elements in an ordinary circuit rapidly commencessmoking, leaving a carbon deposit, but with my intensifier there is nosmoking and no deposit, but instead there is a sharp clean sparklocalized at the desired point. The conventionally. produced sparkappears yellowish with a luminous haze or field around the gap, whereasthe spark produced with my intensifier in place is a fast, clean, bluespark, free from any halo or haze or yellowish cast. Where an insulatoron a spark plug is leaky, either by reason of porosity or breakage,there is but little.

loss or efilciencyat the spark gap when my intensifier'ls in thecircuit,butv in the usual circuit the plug is practically valueless insofar asproducing an eilective spark for combustion is concerned.

While I am aware that others have produced devices intended to intensifythe spark at the spark gap in spark plugs by producing a spark gap inthe high tension line leading to the distributor, I am not aware ofanyintensifier that produces an eflicient and reliable intensifieradapted to accomplish the results of the one herein disclosed.

e metal disks and arow of electrical insulator utor brush or rotorcloses the circuit between the 1 high tension conductor l9 and theconductor 1 Having described my invention, I claim: I v 1. A sparkvintensifier comprising a row of disks in axial alignment with the saidinsulator disks between adjacent pairs of said metal disks insulatingsaid metal disks from each other; a

' softer metals lack suflicient resistance to deterioration'under thesubstantially constant usage i I required in operation of an automobileor an body member of electrical insulation material enclosing said metaldisks and said insulator disks; yieldable electrical conductor means insaid body respectively engaging the end metal disks of said row foryieldably holding said metal disks and said insulator disks in assembledrelation; and means for engaging said electrical conductor meanswith thewires of a high tension circuit connected with a spark plug with saiddisks in series with such circuit to provide a plurality of spark gapsin said circuit beforethe current reaches such plug. v

2. A spark intensifier comprising a tubular member having a cylindricalthroughbore; a row of circular. disks of uniform diameter in said boreand substantially coaxial therewith; the

. alternate disks in said row being 01' metaland of 11 of an inch inthickness, and a diameter of 1 electrical insulation material arrangedso that the end disks are metal yieldable electrical conductor elementsin said bore engaging said'end disks respectively and floatinglysupporting said row of disks in said bore for axial movement to aposition in said bore in' which the yieldable resistance of saidconductors against said end disks is equalized; means supporting saidconductor elements against said end disks under tension for yieldablyholding the disks of said row together; and means for supporting theends of high tension conductors in a high tension circuit in engagementwith said yieldable conductors whereby a plurality of spark gaps in suchcircuit is provided between the peripheries of the metal disks of saidrow.

3. In a construction as defined in claim 2, a tube of rigid insulationmaterial in said bore and substantially coaxial therewith enclosing saiddisks; the inner surface of said tube being glazed and said tube beingaxially movable in said bore between predetermined limits; stop means insaid bore spaced from the opposite ends of said tube for limiting suchmovement of the latter.

4. A spark intensifier comprising a tubular member of refractoryelectrical insulation material having a cylindrical relatively highlyglazed through bore, a row of circular metal disks in said bore coaxialtherewith and a circular disk of electrical insulation material betweenthe disks of each adjacent pair in said row, means at opposite ends ofsaid member for connecting the end metal disks of said row withelectrical conductors in a high tension circuit, the inner diameter ofsaid member being slightly greater than the diameter of the disks insaid row to provide a slight space between the edges of said disks andthe glazed surface of said bore.

5. A spark intensifier comprising a vitreous tubular member ofelectrical insulation material having a through bore formed with arelatively highly glazed surface, a row of tungsten disks within saidbore coaxial therewith, and a disk of mica between the disks of eachadjacent pair thereof in' said row, an electrical conductor spring ateach end of said row yieldably holding the disks together whilepermitting bodily movement of the row longitudinally in oppositedirections against the resistance of one or the other of such springs, ahousing of electrical insulation material enclosing said tubular member,and means carried by said housing for connecting the spring at each endof said row in a high tension circuit.

